I think everyone would agree that FPGA design is hard work. The combination of hardware, software and systems engineering in one place, at one time, is complex and it takes a lot of time and effort before you have a successful build. Sometimes more time and effort than you have the resources to hand.
This is where commercial‑off‑the‑shelf (COTS) products come in like FPGA System‑on‑Modules (SoMs), mezzanine cards, and development and evaluation boards. These components are useful for projects like rapid prototyping of high‑speed data acquisition systems, proof‑of‑concept AI accelerators, industrial vision controllers, and software‑defined radio platforms. They help reduce development time by providing pre‑validated hardware with integrated memory, clocking and I/O, along with ready‑to‑use reference designs, and proven toolchain support. Leaving you to focus on application‑specific innovation instead of reinventing the hardware foundation. They are commonly used in sectors like aerospace and defense, telecommunications, industrial automation, and telecoms testbeds, where time‑to‑market, reliability, and flexibility are critical.
The appeal of COTS modules lies in their ability to streamline development while maintaining flexibility. They enable rapid prototyping, allowing teams to test concepts and iterate designs without waiting for custom hardware to be fabricated. This agility is especially valuable in R&D environments or startups where speed can determine success. By relying on proven, production‑grade modules, developers also reduce the risk of costly design errors, sidestepping many of the pitfalls associated with custom board layouts, signal integrity challenges, or thermal constraints.
Scalability is another advantage. Many COTS FPGA modules are part of broader product families, enabling seamless upgrades or performance scaling without major redesigns. This makes them attractive for projects that may need to evolve over time, whether to meet new performance requirements or adapt to changing market demands. With commercial COTS vendors handling manufacturing and support, teams also benefit from long‑term availability, comprehensive documentation, and compliance with industry standards. Most importantly, by removing low‑level hardware concerns from the design and development process, engineers can concentrate on solving domain‑specific problems like machine vision, cryptography, or real‑time control rather than spending months on board‑level engineering.
Compared to custom FPGA board design, COTS modules offer shorter development cycles, lower non‑recurring engineering (NRE) costs, and field‑proven reliability. They are also easier to integrate, swap, upgrade or repurpose across projects, which can be valuable in sectors where long‑term support and upgrade paths are essential. While custom boards still have their place in FPGA development, the balance of speed, cost, and flexibility can tip the balance in favor of COTS for some modern projects.
If you would like to find out more bout COTS, look out for a session from Sundance at the FPGA Horizons conference, Why use ‘COTS’ Modules for your Next System?. In the session, Flemming Christensen, Managing Director, will talk about the history and benefits of adopted SoMs and how they provide a secure and continued supply of FPGA modules.
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